DMK snaps alliance with PMK

Chennai, June 17 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK Tuesday broke its relationship with the PMK. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi made the announcement here Tuesday evening. The decision was taken after a high-level three-hour meeting of the DMK’s executive at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam.

An indication of this development was on the air since Saturday when Karunanidhi said the issue would be examined by his party’s highest decision making body after the PMK repeatedly assailed the DMK “in a woundingly insulting manner”.

With 95 members in the state legislative assembly, the DMK needs the support of the Congress - 39 MLAs, Communist Party of India-Marxist - 9 MLAs, Communist Party of India - 6, and VCK with 2 MLAs.

The PMK has 18 legislators in the house.

The MDMK - a one-time ally of the DMK and now with the opposition - is to announce its plans soon.

There was no reaction from the PMK - whose leader S. Ramadoss had attempted to placate the DMK leadership by saying the criticism against Karunanidhi was a three-month-old closed issue.